Communiqué - Cal Fire - State of California

Fire Station by the Sea
By Deanna Baxman, Battalion Chief, Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit
On the Northern most tip of the Sonoma
County Coast, south of Mendocino County,
lies The Sea Ranch community. CAL
FIRE’s fi re protection history for The Sea
Ranch area dates back to the late 1940’s.
Back then, the California Division of
Forestry staff ed the Mendosoma Forest
Fire Station located in a remote area
south of The Sea Ranch, in the heart of
logging country. The Mendosoma station
was eight miles inland from Highway 1
and the Sonoma County coast.
The station housed two fi re engines,
one bulldozer and one patrolman. The
response areas for the Mendosoma station
covered several thousand acres and
the “next in” fi re engine was at least one
hour away.
18 Spring 2008
By the early 1970’s, logging slowed and
many lumber mills in the area closed. At
that time, up on the coast, the eclectic
Sea Ranch community had planted roots
and was beginning to grow. What set this
community apart from others was the
unique vision for the homes and surrounding
property to blend in with the natural
Sonoma County coastal landscape.
In 1972, the California Division of Forestry
signed a “Schedule A” agreement with the
County of Sonoma to staff a fi re engine
at The Sea Ranch. The agreement began
with one fi re captain, three days per week
and a small group of volunteer fi refi ghters.
The station was housed in a small building
owned by the Sea Ranch Water Company.
In 1975, the Division of Forestry purchased
property within the Sea Ranch
community and a new station was built
on Annapolis Road.
The Sea Ranch Fire Station blends into
the community and is consistent with the
architectural guidelines created by The
Sea Ranch Design Committee. The new
fi re station became the home to the
Mendosoma (Schedule B) and The Sea
Ranch Fire Department (Schedule A). The
Sea Ranch Fire Station was opened for
business in the winter of 1976. Both programs
were staff ed by CAL FIRE personnel.
CAL FIRE’s commitment to The Sea Ranch
community continues today. Since 1990,
The Sea Ranch Association (TSRA) has been
implementing a Fire Management Plan to
reduce fi re hazards on its property. CAL
FIRE has partnered with TSRA by providing
property inspections for homeowners
and educating the community members
on the importance of fuel reduction and
defensible space.
Today, The Sea Ranch’s “Schedule A” program
is staff ed by one fi re captain and
four fi re apparatus engineers. The current
roster includes 12 volunteers.
The crew maintains a fl eet, including
three fi re engines, one rescue squad, one
air and light unit, a chief’s vehicle and one
utility. The “Schedule B” program consists
of two fi re captains and fi ve fi refi ghters
who staff one engine seasonally.
Captain Shelley Spear said, “Working as
a captain for The Sea Ranch community
is rewarding. The residents of The Sea
Ranch have a great partnership with CAL
FIRE personnel. The unique location and
engaging residents, make this a great
assignment for all of us who work at The
Sea Ranch.”